Fruit and seed diversity of domesticated carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) in Morocco

The carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.) is an important economic resource for Morocco's rural populations. This species is used in reforestation actions and its cultivation in modern orchards is being undertaken to valorize marginal lands and substitute for drought sensitive species. However, little data is available on its intra-specific variability and its adaptability. Morphological characters of pods and seeds from 13 ecoregions of private-domesticated carob were used to assess phenotypic variation of this species. These stands extend from south-west to north-east and cover a wide range of Morocco's ecoregions. Pods length, width, thickness, seeds number, pulp weight, seeds yield and seeds length, width, thickness and weight were measured for 390 trees (30 trees per ecoregion). Statistically significant differences were found between ecoregions for all characters which were examined, what indicates a high phenotypic diversity. Principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster of all ecoregions lead to identify two major and opposite groups (the northern ecoregions; and the central and south-western ecoregions). Ecoregions of the north of Morocco exhibited the largest and the thickest pods with the highest pulp weight while other ecoregions have relatively short pods but largest proportion of seed yield. Similarly, the northern ecoregions are characterized by the heaviest seeds. A correlation matrix between morphological characters, geographic parameters and precipitation exhibits a positive and a negative correlation of pods thickness and pulp weight with the latitude and the altitude, respectively. Seed yield and weight are negatively and positively correlated to pod width, pod thickness and pulp weight, respectively. In addition, seed weight is positively correlated with the latitude. The geographic pattern of the carob tree and its variability are discussed in this paper.     

Mass propagation of Satyrium nepalense D.Don.—A medicinal orchid via seed culture

An in vitro plant regeneration protocol was successfully established in Satyrium nepalense, a terrestrial orchid by culturing immature seeds from unripe fruits. Seeds were germinated on Murashige and Skoog, Knudson C and Knudson C modified Morel medium. The germination of the seeds and development of protocorm was highest in MS medium (86.7%) followed by Knudson C modified Morel medium (74%) and Knudson C medium (61.2%). Among the cytokinins tried for multiple shoot induction from the protocorm, 1-phenyl-3-(1,2,3-thiadiazol-5-yl)-urea (TDZ) was found to be superior. Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) was effective for inducing healthy roots. Well-developed plantlets were hardened in vermicompost (leaf litter + cow dung 1:1), sand and coconut husk (1:1:1).     

Rapid seedlings regeneration from seeds and vegetative propagation with sucker and rhizome of Eremospatha macrocarpa (Mann & Wendl.) Wendl and Laccosperma secundiflorum (P. Beauv.) Kuntze

To develop efficient seedling production methods for Laccosperma secundiflorum and Eremospatha macrocarpa, a study was conducted to examine regeneration using offsets combined with several physical and chemical treatments of seeds. Offsets categorized into small, medium and large diameters, were planted in three conditions: shaded and open nursery, and greenhouse. We tested sucker from E. macrocarpa, and sucker and rhizome from L. secundiflorum. For both species, high viability percentage (ranging from 55% to 100%) were observed for small and medium suckers planted in shaded nursery and greenhouse, against less than 49% for sucker planted in open nursery. The mean seedling emergence times were estimated to 84, 77 and 75 days after planting (DAP) for small, medium and large sucker of L. secundiflorum, respectively under open nursery condition, and 76, 75, 95 DAP for small, medium and large suckers of the same species, respectively in shaded condition. Greenhouse has a significant positive effect on E. macrocarpa seedlings emergence time. For this species, the mean seedling emergence times were estimated to 43 DAP for small sucker and 76, 93 DAP for medium and large suckers. No seedling was obtained from rhizome planted in all the growing conditions tested. Concerning seed dormancy breaking, germination percentages and rates were determined for 13 treatments. The best treatments were pre-soaking unscarified seeds for 4 days in 1.01 g l⁻¹ and 0.10 g l⁻¹ KNO₃, with 79% and 68% of germination, respectively and in 3.46 × 10⁻³ g l⁻¹ GA₃ for 68% of germination. These methods are suggested to improve germination of L. secundiflorum seeds. Successful and recommended methods for E. macrocarpa are pre-soaking scarified seeds in 3.46 × 10⁻³ g l⁻¹ and 3.46 × 10⁻⁴ g l⁻¹ GA₃, 96% and 94% of germination, respectively. Dormancy, probably a combination of mechanical and chemical dormancy, is present in the two species.     

Effect of set-size and storage temperature on bolting,bulbing and seed yield in two onion cultivars

The effects of three set-sizes (12.5, 17.5 and 22.5 mm in diameter) and seven storage temperatures (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 °C) on bolting, bulbing and seed yield in two onion (Allium cepa L.) cultivars ‘Hygro’ and ‘Delta’ were investigated. The incidence of bolting increased linearly with set-size and curvi-linearly with decreasing storage temperature. Time to inflorescence emergence and floret opening showed a curvi-linear response to storage temperature with the earliest inflorescence emergence and floret opening occurring at 5 °C and the latest at 30 °C for ‘Hygro’ and at 25 °C for ‘Delta’. Seed yield per umbel also showed a curvi-linear response to storage temperature with the lowest seed yield occurring at 30 °C for ‘Hygro’ and at 25 °C for ‘Delta’ and the highest seed yield at 5 °C. For a seed crop, storage of large sets (22.5 mm) of these cultivars at 5 °C for 120 days appeared to be optimum with 5–12% higher seed yield per umbel than that of 90 days storage. Bulb yield showed a curvi-linear response to storage temperature with the highest bulb yield occurring at 25 °C and the lowest at 5 °C.     

遮荫处理对侧柏种子萌发的影响

在不同光照梯度55.44%自然全光照(Natural sonlight,NS)、21.12%NS、3.47%NS 和0.86%NS的人工遮荫条件下,研究了侧柏(Platycladus orientalis)种子萌发的特点.结果表明:4个光照梯度处理的侧柏种子的萌发率分别为68.9%、82.2%、44.4%和42.2%;随着光照强度的减弱,种子萌发进程减慢;萌发指数和幼苗活力指数均在21.12%NS处理最大,分别为1.89和770.8.     

Dispersal of woody plants in forest edges and hedgerows in a Southern Swedish agricultural area: the role of site and landscape structure

The distribution of woody vegetation was studied in forest edges and hedgerows in a 28 km² southern Swedish agricultural area, characterised by species-rich edge zones. The occurrence of 21 selected woody species (taxa) was related to differences in both edge structure and landscape structure. All the species studied were represented in both edge types, but a higher frequency of animal-dispersed species was found in hedgerows.Animal dispersed species were more affected by edge width and density than wind dispersed species. A higher number of wind-dispersed species were more frequent in forest edges, in hedgerows near to forest, or with a high proportion of forest within 500 m. A clear relationship was found between the number of physically connected elements in hedgerow networks and increasing frequency of occurrence for Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Euonymus europaeus, and Quercus robur; which indicate the ecological significance of connectedness for certain animal dispersed species. The study supports the general principle that woody species distribution and landscape structure are linked in a positive feedback loop. The results match findings from studies in other countries and are interpreted in the context of landscape processes and the ecological characteristics of woody plant species. We emphasise the importance of understanding dispersal mechanisms of woody species for the design and improvement of edge habitats in agricultural landscapes.     

普通菜豆籽粒大小与形状的QTL定位

普通菜豆是世界上最重要的食用豆类作物之一,其籽粒大小和形状与产量及外观品质密切相关。本研究以来自安第斯基因库的大粒品种龙270709和来自中美基因库的小粒品种F5910配置杂交组合,获得的F2分离群体分别在哈尔滨大田与北京昌平温室种植,对百粒重、粒长、粒宽、粒厚、长宽比和长厚比6个籽粒性状进行了相关性分析和QTL定位。相关性分析表明,百粒重与粒长、粒宽、粒厚、长宽比、长厚比5个衡量籽粒大小和形状的性状均显著正相关。利用基于完备区间作图方法的Ici Mapping 4.1进行QTL定位,哈尔滨环境下定位到38个与百粒重、粒长、粒宽、粒厚、长宽比、长厚比相关的QTL,表型贡献率介于2.39%~17.37%之间,分布在除第1染色体外的其余10条染色体上;北京昌平环境下定位到21个上述性状的QTL,表型贡献率介于5.92%~22.53%之间,分布在第1、第3、第6、第7、第8、第9和第11染色体上。其中,百粒重QTLSW7与SW7’,SW6.1与SW6’,粒长QTLSL6.1与SL6.1’,粒厚QTLSH11与SH11’在2个环境下的标记区间重叠或者重合,SW7、SW6.1、SL6.1、SW6’和SL6.1’的表型贡献率在10%以上。     

牧草种子加工线设计与试验

针对牧草种子加工线各主机既能连线成套工作,也能单独工作的设计要求,采用了主机平面布局和多地坑料斗喂料的形式,结合一字形串联提升机的输送方式,设计了加工线,完成了料门三通、溜管联接卡子和除尘管路风选部件的结构设计。以净度为85%～88%的披碱草种子为加工对象进行了试验,结果表明：生产率大于等于800kg/h,净度大于等于97%,获选率大于等于95%,度电生产率大于等于25kg/（kW·h）,使用有效度大于等于95%,粉尘质量浓度小于等于0.3mg/m3。     

Do frugivorous birds assist rainforest succession in weed dominated oldfield regrowth of subtropical Australia?

Exotic plants often form the first woody vegetation that grows on abandoned farmland. If this vegetation attracts vertebrate frugivores which disperse the seeds of native plants, then native plants may recruit to such oldfield sites. However, there is debate about the extent to which exotic vegetation assists or suppresses the regeneration of native plants, and about its effects on faunal biodiversity. These issues were investigated in subtropical eastern Australia, where rainforests were cleared for agriculture in the 19th century, and where regrowth dominated by camphor laurel (Cinnamomum camphora, an exotic, fleshy-fruited tree) has become common on former agricultural land. The study assessed the assemblages of frugivorous birds, and the recruitment of rainforest plants, at 24 patches of camphor laurel regrowth. The patches were used by nearly all frugivorous birds associated with subtropical rainforest. Many of these birds (16 of 34 species) are considered to have a medium to high potential to disperse the seeds of rainforest plants, and eight of these were abundant and widespread in regrowth patches. Of 208 recorded plant species, 181 were native to local rainforest. The ratio of native to exotic species was higher amongst tree recruits than adult trees, both for numbers of species and individuals. Among native tree recruits, 79% of 75 species, and 93% of 1928 individuals, were potentially dispersed by birds. These recruits included many late-successional species, and there were relatively more individuals of late-successional, bird-dispersed native species amongst recruits than adult trees. The species richness, but not the abundance, of both frugivorous birds and of bird-dispersed rainforest trees decreased with distance from major rainforest remnants. Camphor laurel regrowth provides habitat for rainforest birds and creates conditions suitable for the regeneration of native rainforest plants on abandoned farmland. Careful management of regrowth dominated by fleshy-fruited exotic invasive trees can provide an opportunity for broadscale reforestation in extensively-cleared landscapes.     

大气压等离子体处理对生菜种子萌发和生长发育的影响

利用自制新型大气压等离子体装置对生菜种子进行处理,研究了不同电压的大气压等离子体处理对生菜种子萌发、幼苗生长及产量品质的影响。试验结果表明:不同电压的等离子体处理对生菜种子萌发的影响效果不同。其中,5610和5950 V处理对种子的萌发有促进作用,种子的发芽势、发芽率、发芽指数、活力指数与对照相比均有所提高,而6290~7310 V处理则抑制了种子的萌发,且电压越高抑制效果越明显。同时,等离子体处理种子α-淀粉酶活性提高,电导率降低,幼苗地上部鲜干质量、地下部鲜干质量、根体积、根活力及过氧化物酶活性也有不同程度的增加。不同电压的等离子体处理促进了生菜定植后的生长发育,产量最高比CK提高12.52%;生菜的维生素C、叶绿素、硝酸盐、亚硝酸盐含量等品质也有所改善。综合来看,5610和5950 V的等离子体处理效果较优。